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Please consider the following Air Resources Board press release.
_____________________________________________________________
Release 07-25
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24, 2007
CONTACT:
Dimitri Stanich
(916) 322-2990
www.arb.ca.gov
Union Pacific Railroad settles air quality violations with
$120,000
Sacramento: Union Pacific Railroad, headquartered in Omaha, NE,
recently paid $120,000 for violations of regulations requiring
companies to inspect and verify that their diesel trucks in
California meet state exhaust limits.
An investigation by the California Air Resources Board revealed
that between 2004 and 2005, UP failed to properly inspect and
document its diesel trucks' emissions throughout California.
California's Periodic Smoke Inspection program requires owners
of diesel fleets with two or more heavy duty diesel engines to
inspect and maintain them, and keep records. This expedites
inspections, assures compliance, and guards the state's progress
toward federally mandated clean air standards.
"Compliance with our regulations is the crux to clean healthful
air for all Californians," said ARB's acting-Executive Officer,
Tom Cackette. "We need companies to recognize that Californians
demand clean air and that enforcement actions are an extension
of their desire to live in a healthy and respected
environment."
Most of the money from the settlement was paid into the
California Air Pollution Control Fund, which mitigates pollution
through education, the advancement and use of cleaner technology,
and supports pollution research and related programs. The
California Legislature controls the fund through allocations in
the annual Budget Act.
$30,000 of the settlement is funding an ARB program operated by
select community colleges that provides industry with technical
and compliance training. Fleet maintenance personnel from the
companies found in violation must go through this training
program as a condition of settlement.
Emissions of particulate matter from diesel engines are 70
percent of the air borne carcinogens that Californians are
exposed to on a daily basis. ARB has committed to reducing these
emissions by 85 percent by 2020.
The Air Resources Board is a department of the California
Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and
protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through
effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and
considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air
pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain
health based air quality standards.
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